Device for diffusing the vapours of liquids



April 1956 w. ST. J. WILLIAMS DEVICE FOR DIFFUSING THE VAPOURS OFLIQUIDS Filed Jan. 5, 1951 Inventor 4-! 'hl'k WILLIAM ST JOHN WILLIAMSUnited States Patent O DEVICE FOR DIFFUSING THE VAPOURS F LIQUIDSWilliam St. John Williams, Llaugefni, Anglesey, North Wales ApplicationJanuary 5, 1951, Serial No. 204,600

2 Claims. (Cl. 21-126) This invention relates to a simple, safe andreliable device or apparatus for expediting the dilfusion ordissemination, into the surrounding atmosphere, of vapours produced bythe evaporation of liquids such for instance, as perfumes,disinfectants, or deodorisers, or produced from aromatic solids orcrystals.

According to my invention, I provide a fanor impeller, preferablymulti-bladed (hereinafter, for convenience of description usuallydesignated fan), revolubly disposed within an open-ended ring or tunnelhousing over which a perforate liquid absorbent covering, or a perforatecarrier for solids, is, or may be applied, and said fan being adaptedfor actuation at required speed by a spring or other suitable source ofpower.

Where a liquid absorbent covering is used, a receptacle is provided forcontaining liquid to be evaporated and disseminated.

Preferably, said liquid container is in the form of a trough providedwith a circular aperture around the margin whereof is an upstanding walladapted to fit over the fans open ended housing. The absorbent materialis placed so as to shroud the top of the wall and extend down theoutside thereof into contact with the liquid and to be soaked therewith.

I will further describe my invention with the aid of the accompanyingsheet of explanatory drawings, which illustrate, by Way of example onlyand not of limitation, one mode of embodying same.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part-sectional elevation of the apparatus disposed within anouter casing.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper portion of the apparatus with theouter casing removed; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus also with the outer casingremoved.

a denotes a multi-bladed fan or impeller of sheet metal disposed withina circular tunnel-like housing b carried between a pair of side or checkplates 0 which are secured together and spaced by transverse rod-likemembers c Said fan housing b is positioned in slots 0 provided in thecheek plates 0, and located by tongue-like members a cut in cheek plates0 and screws 0 passing through housing b and engaging with tongues cSaid fan a is mounted upon a spindle a the upper and lower ends whereofare revolubly located respectively in bearings b of said fan housing b,and a support bearing 6 secured to one of the cheek plates 0.

The lower portion of said fan spindle a is in the form of a worm gearand the spindle is rotated by a coil spring e of time-piece type at ahigh speed through the gear train f, g, h, j, k, l and m. Said spring iswound up by means of a key co-operating with the ratchet wheel n and apawl 0 with leaf spring p. Fitted around said fan housing is a circulartrough q having, at the margin of a central aperture formed therein, anup-standing flange or wall r. Covering the top of said Wall r and sothat of fan housing b, and extending down the outside of the wall intotrough q is a piece of fabric gauze s. Said apparatus is containedwithin an outer casing t provided with air inlets u and a removable dustcover v.

In use, dust cover v is removed, spring e is wound-up to cause the fanto rotate at the required speed, and the liquid to be evaporated ispoured into trough q and by absorption soaks toward the middle of thefabric gauze whence, by the air impelled by the fan, it is evaporatedand disseminated into the atmosphere.

It is to be understood that the liquid to be dealt with by my apparatusmay be contained in any convenient manner other than as hereinbeforedescribed and illustrated, as, for instance, a liquid receptacle may beformed around the exterior of easing t, the liquid being conducted tothe fabric top s, say, by absorbent wicks.

Further, whilst the device as .illustrated is spring-operable andself-contained, said fan a may be actuated by any other convenientmeans, say, by a self-contained battery-driven electric motor, or by anelectric motor driven by a remote source of power.

As will be clear, aromatic crystals or solids may be used in the deviceas described in place of liquid, these being preferably placed uponfabric top s above fan a. If, however, the device is intended for useexclusively with solids, the liquid container may be omitted and a Wiregauze carrier substituted for the liquid absorbent top .5.

What I claim is:

1. A self-contained portable device for disseminating vapors from liquidperfumes, disinfectants, and deodorisers, comprising a casing having aremovable closure, a pair of spaced cheek plates, transverse rodsdisposed within said casing connecting said plates, a vertical tunnelhousing carried by the upper portions of said check plates, amulti-bladed impeller revolubly mounted Within said tunnel housing, aspring motor mounted between said check plates, a gear train operativelyconnecting said motor to said impeller for rotating the same, a troughfor liquid connected to and surrounding the upper part of said tunnelhousing, and a loosely woven liquid absorbent fabric disposed over theupper end of said tunnel housing and extending downwardly into saidtrough for making all round contact with the liquid therein whereby theportion of said absorbent fabric extending over the upper end of saidhousing is continuously wetted by capillary action.

2. A self-contained portable device for disseminating vapors from liquidperfumes,, disinfectants, and deodorisers, comprising a casing having aremovable closure, a pair of spaced cheek plates, transverse rodsdisposed within said casing connecting said plates, a vertical tunnelhousing carried by the upper portions of said check plates, amultibladed impeller revolubly mounted within said tunnel housing, aspring motor mounted between said cheek plates, a gear train operativelyconnecting said motor to said impeller for rotating same, a circulartrough mounted around said housing and having a central aperture, anup-standing flange provided on said trough at the margin of saidaperture, and a loosely woven liquid absorbent fabric covering the topof said wall and extending down the outside of said wall into saidtrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS485,127 Lynch Oct. 25, 1892 636,031 Ette Oct. 31, 1899 1,199,033 WorrellSept. 19, 1916 1,614,817 Andrew Jan. 18, 1927 1,732,674 Dever Oct. 22,1929 2,047,973 Lawton et al July 21, 1936 2,087,436 Kirby July 20, 19372,277,552 Kneedler Mar. 24, 1942 2,310,118 Reinhardt Feb. 2, 1943

